The Night is Not for Sale!

We are opposed to Reflect Orbital’s proposal to use satellites to reflect sunlight onto Earth at night. This would introduce significant risks to our nighttime environment on a global scale, including environmental degradation, as well as impacting human wellbeing and astronomical research.

Reflect Orbital’s proposal envisions deploying satellites equipped with large reflective surfaces into low Earth orbit. These mirrors would redirect sunlight toward targets on Earth to customers seeking light at night. If they get approval, they plan launch prototype satellites this year.

DarkSky International has issued an open letter to Reflect Orbital, which they are encouraging everyone to sign. The statement opposes the proposal in its current form. It also urges the U.S. Federal Communications Commission to close longstanding regulatory gaps that allow satellite deployments to proceed without environmental review.

The Milky Way and the Two Thumb Range, Macaulay Valley by Joseph Pooley Photography.

Orbital illumination systems, such as those currently being proposed, represent an unprecedented environmental intervention. Based on current scientific evidence, these systems would introduce significant risks to the nighttime environment at a global scale.

You can read the open letter and sign it here: www. darksky.org/news/orbital-illumination-systems

The night is not for sale. We all deserve a voice in determining the future of the night sky and the night as we know it.